Toronto’s board of health is calling on Queen’s Park to require chain restaurants to post calories and sodium content on their menus, and has signalled it intends to pursue such a rule within its city limits if the province does not.

Last week, The Centre for Science in the Public Interest told all levels of Canadian government that it was time for them to stick their noses into restaurant menus. Not to order, you know, but to set some mandatory standards for disclosure. In a report called Writing on the Wall, CSPI argued that at a minimum, restaurants should be forced to list calorie totals next to every menu item and issue high sodium warning flags next to items containing lots of salt.

Here is the problem: There is no evidence that prominently listing calories significantly changes people’s eating habits for the better. In New York City, where such postings have been required since 2008, initial research shows that they have had minimal effect.

The board voted on Monday 9 to 2 to urge the premier and minister of health and long term care to develop menu labelling legislation that applies to food service premises with 10 or more outlets across the country or at least $10-million in gross annual revenue. In addition to posting calories and sodium directly on the menu, it says restaurants should be required to have comprehensive nutrition information available upon request.

If the province fails to act by the fall, the board has asked the medical officer of health to report back on a city bylaw that would cover the same ground.

“We know we’ve got some serious nutritional health concerns in the population,” said Dr. David McKeown, the chief medical officer of health. Among them are obesity and high blood pressure “because we’re consuming twice as much sodium on average as we should.”

He said studies have shown that it’s very difficult for people to tell which menu options are healthy and unhealthy. “People want this information, they’re interested in their health, and studies show that if the information is provided right on the menu, that people see it and they actually use it to make decisions,” said Dr. McKeown.

But his proposal has already drawn swift condemnation from Mayor Rob Ford and at least one restaurant industry group, suggesting it will come up against opposition at city council.

I know people are smart enough to know what they’re eating is good or bad for you

“I think people, I know people are smart enough to know what they’re eating is good or bad for you,” the mayor said on his radio show on Sunday. “I’m not going to put any more restrictions on restaurants, it is tough enough to keep your head above water and survive in the city.”

John Nunziata, representing the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, told the board that imposing menu labelling rules on restaurants would be like shoving it down their throats. “All of us know french fries are not good for you,” he said.

Still, Councillor Joe Mihevc, chair of the board of health, said having nutritional content on the menu can make a difference and may even encourage those who don’t eat out for fear of the calorie content to go to restaurants. “It has to start somewhere, and Toronto is as good a place as any to start this,” he said.